Lichen planus is an autoimmune disorder affecting the skin and mucous membranes which line the inside of the mouth, nose, eyes and other sensitive areas of the bodies.
Sjogren's Syndrome is one of the most common autoimmune diseases that affect dental health. It is a disease that weakens the salivary glands, the glands that produce saliva. Saliva is an important part of fighting off infection and how your mouth functions.
Oral Lichen Planus: This oral autoimmune disease occurs when the immune system attacks the mucous membranes inside your mouth, according to The Mayo Clinic. It will appear as lacy white patches, sometimes accompanied by painful sores on the lining of the cheeks, tongue, and gums.
It is common knowledge that many people with lupus start developing skin problems of many sorts. As mentioned above, some of these include lupus mouth sores, which could be either painful or entirely painless. The painless subtype of mouth sores is white with a red outline, which appears to be a raised bump.
Oral lesions associated with active disease are usually red ulcers surrounded by a white halo and white radiating lines. These are the more typical “discoid” lesions and are only seen in people with active disease, and you should tell your physician as soon as you notice them.
Your mouth may feel chalky, and you may have trouble swallowing, speaking, and tasting. Because you lack the protective effects of saliva, you may develop more dental decay (cavities) and mouth infections, such as candidiasis (also called thrush).
Some of the most common diseases that impact our oral health include cavities (tooth decay), gum (periodontal) disease, and oral cancer. More than 40% of adults report having felt pain in their mouth within the last year, and more than 80% of people will have had at least one cavity by age 34.
The main symptoms of Sjögren's disease are: Dry mouth. Your tongue and your throat will feel dry and chewing and swallowing may be difficult or painful. Dry eyes. Your eyes may burn or itch or feel as if you have a piece of sand in your eye.
Because of the hallmark oral manifestations of Sjögren disease, dental professionals are often the first clinicians to detect the condition. Due to the xerostomia symptoms that commonly accompany Sjögren disease, patients may present with dry and friable oral mucosa with a dry and fissured tongue.
Diagnosis of Sjögren's Syndrome
However, an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) or a dentist may also perform certain tests to help make the diagnosis. The diagnosis is based on how well the tear and salivary glands are working and whether there is evidence of autoimmunity.
Gingivitis and Gum Disease
Inflammation in the gums is linked to several different autoimmune disorders, including lupus, Crohn's disease, and scleroderma, among others. Gingivitis is a condition in which gums are inflamed and red; it's a precursor to gum disease.
Dry eyes, corneal ulcerations and infections. Dry nose, recurrent sinusitis, nosebleeds. Dry mouth, mouth sores, dental decay, difficulty with chewing, speech, taste and dentures. Swollen, painful parotid/salivary glands.
In Sjögren's syndrome, the immune system produces antibodies that attack healthy areas of the body. These can be found during a blood test. But not everyone with Sjögren's syndrome has these antibodies, so you may have the condition even if a blood test does not find them.
In its more serious form, called periodontitis, the gums can pull away from the tooth, bone can be lost, and the teeth may loosen or even fall out. Periodontal disease is mostly seen in adults. Periodontal disease and tooth decay are the two biggest threats to dental health.
Inflammations of the oral mucosa are called depending on their localization as follows: Glossitis—inflammation of the tongue. Stomatitis—inflammation of larger parts of the oral mucosa. Gingivitis—inflammation of the gum.
Stomatitis refers to inflammation of the oral mucosa, which presents with ulcers that can cause pain and difficulty drinking and eating. Ulcer(s) can be present on the inner lips and cheeks, on the gums, or on the tongue and are caused by infection, irritants, trauma, or allergic reactions.
Primary Sjögren's syndrome
Certain people are born with specific genes that make them more vulnerable to a faulty immune system. Then, many years later, an environmental factor, possibly a common virus, triggers the immune system to stop working properly. The female hormone oestrogen also seems to play a role.
If Sjögren's syndrome isn't treated appropriately, significant, long-term complications could result that affect your eyes, mouth, lungs, kidneys, liver or lymph nodes — complications including blindness, significant dental destruction and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Certain genes put people at higher risk of the disorder, but it appears that a triggering mechanism — such as infection with a particular virus or strain of bacteria — is also necessary. In Sjogren's syndrome, your immune system first targets the glands that make tears and saliva.
The first symptoms of lupus usually occur somewhere between the teen years and the 30s and may be mild, severe, sporadic, or continual. Common general symptoms include fatigue, fever, and hair loss. Lupus can also affect individual organs and body parts, such as the skin, kidneys, and joints.
Even when lupus affects your nervous system, its most common symptoms are migraine, personality changes, seizures, or stroke, but these aren't typical for MS. Common MS symptoms include electric shocks when you move your neck, vision problems, slurred speech, and bladder or bowel problems. These aren't lupus symptoms.